More a beginning bilingual word book than a story, Guy’s text begins with “escuela / school” and moves on through “niños / children,” “clase / classroom,” “comba / jump rope” and other school-related pairs of words to present a basic vocabulary of the school day. Escrivá’s illustrations are warm, watercolors, busy with details. They show children of various ethnicities engaged in preschool or kindergarten activities: sitting at their desks, looking at letter flashcards, painting, looking at books and playing on the playground. Guy uses the minimal text to suggest a plot. When one child lands badly at the bottom of the slide, to the words “¡AY! / OUCH!,” others come running to help. The final pairs are “amigos / friends” and “mi escuela / my school,” showing a progression from initial abstraction to ownership. Perfect for short attention spans and for encouraging the beginnings of bilingualism. (Picture book. 1-5)
